A reminder to be safe out there

"CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi)
09/02/2014 at 12:57 • Filed to: PSA, Safety

I know Labor day is over, which means, for many of you, the "going outside and doing things" season is over, but here is a friendly reminder to be safe and think things through.

This weekend I led a wheeling newby up what I would consider a moderately challenging trail. This trail starts on one side of a mountain at 2,100 ft crosses the peak (or rather just to the side) at 7,700 ft, and then back down the other side to about 2,400 ft. The up is pretty easy, a little rocky, but mostly dirt. The down is fairly challenging and has many large rocks which one needs to properly navigate.

As we approached the peak of this mountain, we were flagged down by some people on UTVs. The scene we came upon was one that could have easily been avoided.

Two women, one in her late 20's early 30's and her mother-in-law had been riding an ATV in an off-trail area. They were riding two up on this ATV with the woman's husband following on a separate ATV. The woman hit a boulder while trying to climb a hill, and, presumably in an effort to get over the rock, floored it. The ATV went nose up.

The women were not wearing any safety gear, including helmets, and were riding a borrowed utility ATV (the husband said they borrowed the ATVs from a friend for the day).

As the ATV flipped nose up, the women fell off the back, the bike flipped back onto the driver, hitting her in the face with the handlebars, crushing her nose and cheek bones. The bike continued to roll down hill onto, and over the rider. When we got there the rider was conscious, but was unable to feel or move her limbs.

Luckily, one of the UTV riders was able to get a cell signal and call for help. There was a BLM fire ranger in the area and he was able to make it to us in about 20 minutes. There was also a local paramedic who happened to be out on his UTV who was able to get to us in about the same time.

The ranger had us use our vehicles to block off the road in either direction so they could get a helicopter in (without risking more onlookers or congestion), but it would be some time for the chopper to get up and out to us.

Once the chopper arrived they had to make several trips to asses, unload equipment, load the women and bring them to the hospital. They also had to fly one at a time as the location we were in would be too tight to land a large chopper in so they had to use a smaller Search and Rescue craft.

I do not know how the story ends for the two women, I do know the older woman was able to regain feeling in her limbs by the time the medevac had landed, which is a good sign. I also know that this could have easily been prevented.

Please, use proper safety gear, know your equipment, know your limitations, and know your terrain. Weather your out for a track day, crawling on some rocks, or hitting some trails, be smart, stay safe.

Here's a video of the chopper landing on a rock that's barely wider than the runners to unload some equipment. I must say, these pilots are very skilled.

DISCUSSION (5)

Dsscats > CAR_IS_MI
09/02/2014 at 13:25

Why the hell were they riding without any gear?!?

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Dsscats
09/02/2014 at 13:27

That's right around the point I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep reading... haha.

CAR_IS_MI > Dsscats
09/02/2014 at 13:28

Exactly. Just not a good idea in general.

HammerheadFistpunch > CAR_IS_MI
09/02/2014 at 14:19

I have a good friend that was nearly killed in a similar manner when he was in highschool. ATV flipped over him, no helmet. He was in a comma for 3 months, is now mentally a little slower, the right half of his face is paralyzed and he can't see so well. Lucky for him, it changed him from a total prick to one of the nicest guys in the world. So there's that I guess. Also its a strong endorsement for saving that 5-20 grand you would spend on an ATV/UTV and getting a truck...with a safety cage and belts.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > CAR_IS_MI
09/02/2014 at 14:36

This story ended much worse for one of my wife's cousins. He rode an ATV hundreds, if not thousands of times in his life. His parents always insisted he wore safety gear (at the LEAST a helmet) and someone be home when he rode it. (they had enough property that he could ride at home).

He decided to ride without a helmet while his parents weren't home. He died at 16 when the ATV did exactly what you just described and crushed him.

Sorry to tell the downer story, I just wanted to help re-enforce what you're saying here, this shit really does happen.